Because the Mail Never Stops!

Regardless of how you feel about the USPS's recent decision to stop delivering mail on Saturdays, organizing your mail can be an issue.  So, today's post includes some tips on how to better manage it.

If you want some comic relief, click on the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL6ubXD9ZjY
I am a huge Seinfeld fan, and always thought that Newman's ranting about the mail was quite funny.  I give mail carriers a lot of credit, even though I don't always want what they are delivering.  But as the saying goes, "don't shoot the messenger".

My husband used to pile up my mail on a chair.  This drove me nuts, as you can image.  After a long day at work dealing with paperwork, the last thing that I wanted to deal with before sitting down was my mail.  To solve this problem, I made "mailboxes" to put in our office.

To make these, I used cereal boxes and covered them with scrapbooking paper to match the decor.  Then I used chalk to write our names on them.  They were easy and inexpensive to make, lightweight to hang on the wall, but strong enough to hold our mail.  The best part is that my husband actually uses them. 

Above our "mailboxes" we have a bulletin board.  At the bottom of it, I use binder clips and tacks to hold the envelopes, stamps, and return address labels.  Viola, a cheap and easy mail center that is easy to find and take stock of. 

Here's some other ways to lessen the burden of your mail:

• Recycle or shred junk mail right away.  Otherwise it piles up over time and can become overwhelming.
• After opening the mail, get rid of the envelopes.  They take up space and addresses are usually written on the inside correspondence. 
• Use e-statements and online bill pay.  You can easily file your statements in your email.  Plus you can sign up for email and/or text reminders for when your bills are due.  You also save money on postage.
• Cancel subscriptions to magazine or newspapers if you don't have time to read them.  The amount of space they take up adds up fast.  If you do have time to read them, get rid of them when you are done reading them.  Ask a teacher if she can use them for a class project if you don't want to just put them in the recycling.  Many magazines now offer e-subscriptions that can be viewed on your tablet or computer.  Since they don't use paper, they are often less expensive.  Otherwise, visit your local library to read the hard copy version.  
• Find a place for the mail that requires your attention.  Choose a day and/or time to deal with these at least once a week.  Pay attention to due dates. 
• File needed papers immediately after you are done dealing with them.  Waiting until you get a big pile makes it much more of a chore.  

As an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City reads:  "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."  And I am ready for all that they deliver.